Council/Social Housing

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he has taken since May 1997 to encourage local authorities to build council houses.

John Prescott: The ODPM five year plan "Homes for All" set out three ways in which local authorities can be involved in delivering new social housing:
	The expanded PFI;
	funding building by housing associations; and,
	bidding in partnership with private developers for funding from the Housing Corporation.
	We expect the first of these to produce at least 6000 homes by 2008 worth around £500 million through a combination of new build and estate remodelling.

Council/Social Housing

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the level of public funding for social housing was in (a) 2005 and (b) 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Government housing capital investment totalled £4.5 billion in 2004–05 and £1.8 billion in 1997–98.
	These figures include £2.9 billion in 2004–05 and £1.1 billion in 1997–98 made available to local authorities mainly for the maintenance and improvement of existing council housing, and £1.6 billion in 2004–05 and £0.7 billion in 1997–98 to registered social landlords (via the Housing Corporation) mainly to increase the supply of new social homes.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much revenue was raised in council tax in England in each year since its creation; and what the estimated figure is for 2005–06.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 542W and on 10 October 2005, Official Report, columns 383–5W.

Electricity Spending

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much each departmental site has spent on electricity in each year since 2001.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002 and the following figures reflect this.
	
		
			£ 
			 Electricity spend by site 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Ashdown House (HQ) 201,523 202,579 241,463 
			 Eland House (HQ) 167,505 239,538 276,101 
			 Hempstead House (HQ) (1)— 8,123 8,953 
			 Planning Inspectorate 105,941 119,960 117,047 
			 Queen Elizabeth II CC 228,636 330,450 416,173 
			 Fire Service College 128,000 143,840 181,925 
			 The Rent Service 100,013 188,204 (2)— 
			  931,618 1,232,694 1,241,662 
		
	
	(1) Not known.
	(2) The Rent Service transferred to The Department for Works and Pensions in April 2004.
	This answer does not include figures for 26 Whitehall, which is managed by the Cabinet Office, and for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister pays an agreed proportion of the cost of all services supplied by the Cabinet Office.
	The figures for 2004–05 have yet to be independently verified by DEFRA and therefore should be considered as provisional.
	This answer does not include the buildings occupied by Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Department has spent on research into avian influenza in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Over the last five years the Department has doubled the amount invested into research activity on avian influenza, from £226,000 during 2001–02, to £463,000 budgeted during 2005–06.
	
		
			  £000 
			 Financial year Budget 
		
		
			 2001–02 226 
			 2002–03 227 
			 2003–04 234 
			 2004–05 382 
			 2005–06 463

Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it remains Government policy that action to tackle climate change post-2012 should include mandatory national targets for reductions in carbon emissions.

Elliot Morley: The UK Government and the EU remain committed to the framework set out by the Kyoto protocol. It remains crucially important, as the first ever legally binding framework, to set quantified emissions reductions for developed countries. The UK Government and the EU want to build on the Kyoto protocol and its key elements such as targets and timetables, monitoring and reporting, compliance and the flexibility mechanisms for the period after 2012.
	In addition, on the basis of the European Commission's communication "Winning the battle against global climate change" (February 2005) the European Council of Ministers concluded that the EU's future climate change strategy should:
	(a) Strive at the widest possible cooperation by all countries;
	(b) Include all important greenhouse gases, sectors and mitigation options;
	(c) Drive technological innovation, employing an optimal mix of "push" and "pull" policies, in particular in the transport and energy sector;
	(d) Promote the transfer of technologies to appropriate markets;
	(e) Provide for the continued use of market-based and flexible instruments, and;
	(f) Support the adaptation to unavoidable climate change in all countries, particularly in the most vulnerable developing countries.

Veterinary Medicines

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to introduce the recommendations in the Competition Commission's report on prescription-only veterinary medicines.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government carefully considered the recommendations made by the Competition Commission in their report on the supply of prescription-only medicines in the UK. Defra's formal response to these recommendations was issued on 9 July 2003 and is available on the Veterinary Medicines Directorate's (VMD) website (www.vmd.gov.uk) under "Publications, General", 9 July 2003, Official Report, column 53WS.
	Those recommendations which were accepted by the Government have been carried forward within the recent comprehensive revision of the UK veterinary medicines legislation and the recommendations requiring changes to legislation on veterinary medicines are included in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005 (SI 2745) that are due to come into force on 30 October 2005.
	The recommendation that a review of distribution classifications of marketing authorisations has been addressed by a three month public consultation from 27 July 2005 requesting interested parties to submit cases for the review of the classification of individual products or product groups. The consultation closes on 19 October and all interested parties will be consulted again on proposals to change any product's distribution category. Details of the consultation are available on the VMD website under "Consultations, Current".

Water

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to (a) reduce water abstraction and (b) increase river flows during the summer months; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is the statutory body with a duty to manage water resources in England and Wales. The principal mechanism for achieving sustainable management and development of water resources is through the Agency's system of abstraction licensing.
	Many abstraction licences will have a condition that means abstraction must cease if the river flow or depth falls below a specified value. In addition the Environment Agency can place a ban on abstractions by spray irrigators, if this becomes necessary.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, can make a drought order, on application by the Environment Agency or a water undertaker, which contains powers to reduce abstractions by third parties to ensure that supplies can be maintained.

Water

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to build new reservoirs in the (a) East and (b) South East of England; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: In fulfilment of their duties to maintain adequate supplies of water, several water companies in southern England propose to enlarge existing reservoirs or construct new ones. These proposals were set out in the 25 year water resources plans they prepared in 2004. The Environment Agency has advised Ministers about the appropriateness of these proposals and other measures to ensure security of supply, in its report "Maintaining water supply", which was published in July 2004. The Department has no plans to build reservoirs.

Firearms

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the accountability of police forces in England and Wales in their use of firearms.

Hazel Blears: The use of lethal force by police officers is subject to the same requirements as for any other use of force. In general terms, the Criminal Law Act 1967 provides that the police may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances to effect an arrest or to prevent crime. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 also provides for the use of force when necessary in exercising any of the powers provided under that Act.
	Within the general framework of the law governing the use of force by the police, Chief Officers must have regard to the Statutory Code of Practice on the Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons.
	The Code is made under the Police Acts of 1996 and 1997. The Code of Practice is backed up by a more detailed Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms produced by the Association of Chief Police Officers which covers the more operational aspects of the use of firearms.

Illegal Immigrants

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) private and (b) commercial vehicles entering the UK were searched by immigration officials at the (i) Hull, (ii) Dover, (iii) Portsmouth and (iv) Southampton ports of entry in the last period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: At Hull, Southampton, Portsmouth and juxtaposed locations with services arriving at Dover, manual searches of private cars are conducted by Immigration Service staff on a risk assessed, intelligence led basis. Figures are not collated on these checks.
	Commercial vehicles on services to Portsmouth, Southampton and Hull are screened by the port operator and carriers abroad. Figures are not available for these checks. On arrival in the UK screening of the vehicles by the Immigration Service is undertaken on a risk assessed intelligence led basis. 100 per cent. of commercial vehicles departing from juxtaposed locations to Dover are screened by the port operators on behalf of carriers using search technologies provided by the Immigration Service. Secondary checks are also conducted by Immigration Officers at juxtaposed locations on a risk assessed, intelligence led basis.

Parking Fines

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will collate and publish figures for (a) the income from parking fines and (b) the number of parking fines issued in each local authority area in England in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: Whilst information is not available centrally on the amount of income from parking fines, available information on court-imposed fines and fixed penalty notices issued by the police is given in the following tables. The information is broken down by police force area and relates to all offences of obstruction, waiting and parking in England during the calendar years 1997 to 2003 (latest available).
	Not all fines and fixed penalties will have been paid.
	Information for 2004 will be available early in 2006.Under the Road Traffic Act 1991, decriminalised parking enforcement (DPE) powers allow local authorities to take over responsibility for enforcing parking contraventions from police. Data on penalty charge notices (PCNs) from individual local authorities operating decriminalised parking enforcement was first published in the Home Office publication 'Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales 2002 Supplementary tables'. The latest publication 2003 [Table 22(a)—22(b) refers] lists data by local authorities partaking in the scheme, a copy of which is available in the Library. This publication can also be accessed on the Home Office research development and statistics (RDS) website at:
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm
	
		Table A: Fixed penalty data by police force area for obstruction, waiting and parking offences 1,2England 1997–2003 Number of tickets
		
			  1997 1998 1999 
			 Police force area Endorsable Non-endorsable Endorsable Non-endorsable Endorsable Non-endorsable 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 7 58,107 4 52,916 7 49,519 
			 Bedfordshire — 35,469 — 34,592 — 5,175 
			 Cambridgeshire 2 32,499 1 28,779 — 30,387 
			 Cheshire 3 32,257 4 30,182 3 25,922 
			 Cleveland — 21,700 2 22,864 1 18,633 
			 Cumbria 2 20,800 2 23,162 2 12,952 
			 Derbyshire 3 23,870 1 25,998 — 22,926 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4 80,531 2 84,877 5 77,906 
			 Dorset — 40,725  32,790 — 32,708 
			 Durham 1 15,040 2 15,912 — 12,140 
			 Essex 10 59,748 9 58,919 5 49,230 
			 Gloucestershire 1 33,417  31,067 1 28,467 
			 Greater Manchester 7 166,242 9 141,889 5 78,844 
			 Hampshire 5 70,475 7 66,249 8 50,937 
			 Hertfordshire 2 52,954 3 31,219 2 36,064 
			 Humberside 3 29,027 3 25,990 2 23,910 
			 Kent 11 65,033 5 58,707 5 48,753 
			 Lancashire 19 94,864 8 82,837 15 71,449 
			 Leicestershire 5 53,338 2 49,078 3 45,722 
			 Lincolnshire — 29,067 9 26,641 2 15,486 
			 London, City of — 666 — 1,109 3 725 
			 Merseyside 6 98,229 4 97,518 12 86,912 
			 Met Police 90 160,761 98 205,779 41 192,069 
			 Norfolk — 36,350 1 30,754 1 26,388 
			 Northamptonshire — 29,576 — 27,854 2 21,272 
			 Northumbria 7 47,592 3 45,653 8 39,865 
			 North Yorkshire 5 22,127 7 19,970 2 20,437 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 42,021 2 37,004 — 34,871 
			 South Yorkshire 4 28,256 7 30,847 11 26,694 
			 Staffordshire 11 26,445 9 27,459 4 21,256 
			 Suffolk 6 23,037 5 21,753 1 20,574 
			 Surrey 6 25,614 7 25,400 6 20,544 
			 Sussex 13 120,244 7 111,859 5 101,971 
			 Thames Valley 6 77,971 6 76,943 3 66,454 
			 Warwickshire 1 15,550 2 18,020 — 16,749 
			 West Mercia 4 26,221 4 26,138 2 26,688 
			 West Midlands 23 156,251 26 148,944 23 119,867 
			 West Yorkshire 10 69,608 7 63,556 5 60,337 
			 Wiltshire 5 16,025 2 15,452 1 12,896 
			 England 284 2,037,707 270 1,956,680 196 1,653,699 
		
	
	
		Number of tickets
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
			 Police force area Endorsable Non-endorsable Endorsable Non-endorsable Endorsable Non-endorsable 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 1 34,551 4 25,827 1 22,481 
			 Bedfordshire 2 3,485 — 2,991 — 3,602 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 32,675 1 33,286 — 32,237 
			 Cheshire 3 19,248 — 17,532 1 15,776 
			 Cleveland — 15,487 1 10,634 2 15,721 
			 Cumbria 3 5,857 — 5,758 3 2,384 
			 Derbyshire — 22,259 — 18,792 2 16,409 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3 77,874 3 59,407 4 59,631 
			 Dorset 3 31,256 — 25,500 — 8,034 
			 Durham 2 16,082 1 12,521 1 12,499 
			 Essex 6 40,656 1 29,772 1 23,534 
			 Gloucestershire 1 28,527 — 26,500 — 26,411 
			 Greater Manchester 3 71,056 2 43,381 3 34,820 
			 Hampshire 5 31,622 9 40,015 4 22,695 
			 Hertfordshire 3 32,574 3 32,709 — 27,054 
			 Humberside 4 26,594 3 25,701 2 26,504 
			 Kent 12 3,673 10 1,702 4 1,086 
			 Lancashire 6 64,929 6 55,992 4 47,729 
			 Leicestershire 3 37,987 3 39,885 3 41,651 
			 Lincolnshire 2 15,893 — 15,725 — 16,659 
			 London, City of — 438 2 511 — 741 
			 Merseyside 3 61,246 4 49,967 3 35,989 
			 Met Police 27 196,965 21 141,776 18 141,950 
			 Norfolk 2 25,337 — 23,880 3 10,135 
			 Northamptonshire — 12,874 — 7,988 — 4,457 
			 Northumbria 9 44,687 24 57,780 15 48,670 
			 North Yorkshire 2 13,529 — 14,435 1 9,435 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 31,525 — 24,515 — 13,387 
			 South Yorkshire 8 28,940 6 30,360 6 29,356 
			 Staffordshire 5 11,936 7 9,154 1 7,275 
			 Suffolk 2 20,837 — 18,953 1 20,439 
			 Surrey 4 21,431 1 22,961 4 25,040 
			 Sussex 6 119,765 5 71,966 1 47,515 
			 Thames Valley 4 51,917 5 37,409 6 34,605 
			 Warwickshire 1 13,801 — 15,355 — 16,556 
			 West Mercia 1 22,736 4 17,104 2 17,382 
			 West Midlands 17 88,137 18 64,030 10 46,436 
			 West Yorkshire 1 61,143 3 55,300 5 55,977 
			 Wiltshire 1 10,210 1 7,450 — 8,395 
			 England 158 1,449,739 148 1,194,524 111 1,030,657 
		
	
	
		Number of tickets
		
			  2003 
			 Police force area Endorsable Non-endorsable 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 14 17,638 
			 Bedfordshire — 2,235 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 22,459 
			 Cheshire 1 15,938 
			 Cleveland — 8,522 
			 Cumbria 2 1,814 
			 Derbyshire 2 15,779 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2 57,699 
			 Dorset — 635 
			 Durham — 5,668 
			 Essex 4 9,953 
			 Gloucestershire 1 27,703 
			 Greater Manchester — 27,964 
			 Hampshire 8 18,384 
			 Hertfordshire 1 9,216 
			 Humberside 1 25,503 
			 Kent 6 979 
			 Lancashire 8 31,771 
			 Leicestershire 1 31,023 
			 Lincolnshire — 18,563 
			 London, City of 3 678 
			 Merseyside 2 17,600 
			 Met Police 26 209,195 
			 Norfolk — 9,532 
			 Northamptonshire — 3,701 
			 Northumbria 21 30,418 
			 North Yorkshire — 5,670 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 6,634 
			 South Yorkshire 7 27,549 
			 Staffordshire 1 8,410 
			 Suffolk 14 20,183 
			 Surrey 5 16,125 
			 Sussex 2 46,181 
			 Thames Valley 4 24,781 
			 Warwickshire — 14,041 
			 West Mercia 3 12,451 
			 West Midlands 15 53,118 
			 West Yorkshire 2 54,176 
			 Wiltshire — 5,618 
			 England 158 915,507 
		
	
	(4) Offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.22; Transport Act 2000 ss.173 (5); 173 (6); 173 (7); 174 (3); 175 (2); 175 (3); 175 (4); 190 Highway Act 1835 ss 72 and 78; RTA 1988 ss. 19 & 21; Highways Act 1980 s. 137 (1); Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 ss. 5 (1), 8,32–36 and 45–53; Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) regulations 1986 Regs. 101 and 103; Transport Act 2000 Part III; Metropolitan Police Act 1839 s. 54 (1)
	(5) Does not include decriminalised parking enforcements (DPE).
	
		Table B: Court proceedings data for obstruction, waiting and parking offences(6)(7) England 1997–2003Court proceedings(8)
		
			  1997 1998 
			 Police force area Total number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average amount of fines (£) Total number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average amount of fines (£) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 399 27,251 68 302 14,555 48 
			 Bedfordshire 115 4,600 40 106 4,400 42 
			 Cambridgeshire 167 6,820 41 162 6,980 43 
			 Cheshire 272 10,928 40 270 9,989 37 
			 Cleveland 366 12,355 34 328 9,733 30 
			 Cumbria 128 5,050 39 117 4,475 38 
			 Derbyshire 324 12,728 39 438 21,010 48 
			 Devon and Cornwall 486 20,200 42 502 19,435 39 
			 Dorset 88 3,423 39 86 3,515 41 
			 Durham 22 780 35 71 3,035 43 
			 Essex 416 19,705 47 378 16,904 45 
			 Gloucestershire 145 6,350 44 120 3,890 32 
			 Greater Manchester 1,130 61,004 54 908 36,667 40 
			 Hampshire 119 5,026 42 158 6,984 44 
			 Hertfordshire 208 8,180 39 208 10,149 49 
			 Humberside 454 12,855 28 453 13,920 31 
			 Kent 302 13,651 45 304 10,374 34 
			 Lancashire 504 24,705 49 532 23,460 44 
			 Leicestershire 202 8,895 44 190 9,120 48 
			 Lincolnshire 71 2,470 35 82 3,375 41 
			 London, City of 78 7,913 101 77 15,285 199 
			 Merseyside 456 16,220 36 993 44,488 45 
			 Met Police 2,208 429,315 194 2,785 307,948 111 
			 Norfolk 113 3,535 31 76 2,740 36 
			 Northamptonshire 463 23,310 50 440 23,175 53 
			 Northumbria 295 10,754 36 248 10,878 44 
			 North Yorkshire 80 3,687 46 69 2,655 38 
			 Nottinghamshire 258 9,227 36 216 8,903 41 
			 South Yorkshire 222 9,095 41 195 8,417 43 
			 Staffordshire 141 6,470 46 173 9,196 53 
			 Suffolk 435 13,735 32 355 11,855 33 
			 Surrey 91 4,225 46 67 2,630 39 
			 Sussex 251 9,249 37 392 13,606 35 
			 Thames Valley 357 13,074 37 339 14,610 43 
			 Warwickshire 161 7,810 49 68 3,440 51 
			 West Mercia 449 21,945 49 548 22,901 42 
			 West Midlands 834 34,183 41 962 42,376 44 
			 West Yorkshire 350 15,189 43 531 22,090 42 
			 Wiltshire 185 7,290 39 254 9,751 38 
			 England 13,345 913,202 68 14,503 808,914 56 
		
	
	
		Court proceedings(8)
		
			  1999 2000 
			 Police force area Total number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average amount of fines (£) Total number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average amount of fines (£) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 322 20,427 63 247 15,362 62 
			 Bedfordshire 45 1,900 42 18 1,211 67 
			 Cambridgeshire 112 4,685 42 92 3,165 34 
			 Cheshire 172 6,851 40 129 5,844 45 
			 Cleveland 283 9,625 34 277 10,050 36 
			 Cumbria 109 5,538 51 63 3,805 60 
			 Derbyshire 459 21,390 47 353 16,450 47 
			 Devon and Cornwall 553 19,110 35 386 14,460 37 
			 Dorset 78 3,720 48 84 3,650 43 
			 Durham 120 5,680 47 165 7,050 43 
			 Essex 491 20,911 43 334 19,925 60 
			 Gloucestershire 430 18,332 43 738 27,323 37 
			 Greater Manchester 637 25,371 40 392 17,133 44 
			 Hampshire 140 5,384 38 100 3,900 39 
			 Hertfordshire 309 18,906 61 395 25,265 64 
			 Humberside 303 9,161 30 125 3,610 29 
			 Kent 175 7,460 43 84 6,461 77 
			 Lancashire 531 20,577 39 446 15,532 35 
			 Leicestershire 241 10,817 45 181 7,120 39 
			 Lincolnshire 68 2,516 37 49 1,530 31 
			 London, City of 67 11,580 173 103 26,427 257 
			 Merseyside 642 23,997 37 395 16,516 42 
			 Met Police 3,045 367,928 121 3,002 435,821 145 
			 Norfolk 63 2,840 45 61 2,295 38 
			 Northamptonshire 567 30,157 53 463 26,560 57 
			 Northumbria 283 10,820 38 225 7,990 36 
			 North Yorkshire 78 3,585 46 69 3,155 46 
			 Nottinghamshire 152 6,289 41 152 7,890 52 
			 South Yorkshire 197 13,875 70 130 5,765 44 
			 Staffordshire 113 5,587 49 37 1,940 52 
			 Suffolk 343 12,785 37 313 10,825 35 
			 Surrey 104 4,096 39 62 2,480 40 
			 Sussex 429 15,137 35 493 16,945 34 
			 Thames Valley 298 13,540 45 311 14,952 48 
			 Warwickshire 153 5,090 33 142 6,910 49 
			 West Mercia 652 34,195 52 463 22,450 48 
			 West Midlands 936 44,102 47 612 28,644 47 
			 West Yorkshire 686 30,310 44 509 26,186 44 
			 Wiltshire 293 12,142 41 294 20,575 70 
			 England 14,679 886,416 60 12,584 893,172 71 
		
	
	
		Court proceedings(8)
		
			  2001 2002 
			 Police force area Total number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average amount of fines (£) Total number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average amount of fines (£) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 222 20,114 91 239 22,540 94 
			 Bedfordshire 16 820 51 12 645 54 
			 Cambridgeshire 113 4,495 40 109 5,925 54 
			 Cheshire 232 9,385 40 164 7,720 47 
			 Cleveland 465 16,300 35 360 13,300 37 
			 Cumbria 38 2,190 58 56 3,610 64 
			 Derbyshire 310 16,675 54 299 16,635 56 
			 Devon and Cornwall 465 19,295 41 357 16,252 46 
			 Dorset 465 19,295 41 65 3,370 52 
			 Durham 136 6,200 46 77 7,145 93 
			 Essex 224 12,238 55 286 18,727 65 
			 Gloucestershire 770 32,191 42 814 30,450 37 
			 Greater Manchester 470 22,802 49 299 12,960 43 
			 Hampshire 108 5,100 47 81 4,315 53 
			 Hertfordshire 184 13,620 74 140 9,550 68 
			 Humberside 83 3,350 40 160 6,225 39 
			 Kent 24 1,970 82 21 1,500 71 
			 Lancashire 442 20,835 47 606 25,465 42 
			 Leicestershire 481 17,666 37 1,018 61,865 61 
			 Lincolnshire 108 4,480 41 137 5,835 43 
			 London, City of 19 3,420 180 26 3,755 144 
			 Merseyside 745 30,485 41 372 14,825 40 
			 Met Police 2,400 363,471 151 2,374 353,392 149 
			 Norfolk 115 4,707 41 126 8,916 71 
			 Northamptonshire 152 9,775 64 18 985 55 
			 Northumbria 274 11,635 42 256 10,525 41 
			 North Yorkshire 92 4,350 47 56 2,620 47 
			 Nottinghamshire 208 10,065 48 294 17,200 59 
			 South Yorkshire 206 9,870 48 217 10,835 50 
			 Staffordshire 23 1,245 54 21 1,685 80 
			 Suffolk 274 10,590 39 378 15,405 41 
			 Surrey 66 3,671 56 67 3,970 59 
			 Sussex 447 15,883 36 129 5,615 44 
			 Thames Valley 459 39,350 86 254 11,715 46 
			 Warwickshire 156 8,265 53 166 9,330 56 
			 West Mercia 494 24,071 49 373 20,390 55 
			 West Midlands 338 16,841 50 315 13,785 44 
			 West Yorkshire 548 21,827 40 563 21,247 38 
			 Wiltshire 152 10,678 70 174 13,603 78 
			 England 12,524 849,220 68 11,479 813,832 71 
		
	
	
		Court Proceedings(8)
		
			  2003 
			 Police force area Total number of fines Total amount of fine (£) Average amount of fines (£) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 110 9,445 86 
			 Bedfordshire 75 4,020 54 
			 Cambridgeshire 98 5,445 56 
			 Cheshire 47 2,260 48 
			 Cleveland 322 11,045 34 
			 Cumbria 45 2.905 65 
			 Derbyshire 349 18,575 53 
			 Devon and Cornwall 300 14,068 47 
			 Dorset 4 235 59 
			 Durham 43 2,040 47 
			 Essex 149 9.820 66 
			 Gloucestershire 845 30,755 36 
			 Greater Manchester 376 16,990 45 
			 Hampshire 64 3,740 58 
			 Hertfordshire 96 6,753 70 
			 Humberside 214 8,410 39 
			 Kent 14 780 56 
			 Lancashire 576 23,138 40 
			 Leicestershire 1,818 105,285 58 
			 Lincolnshire 185 7,860 42 
			 London, City of 19 1,635 86 
			 Merseyside 168 8,539 51 
			 Met Police 2,363 346,848 147 
			 Norfolk 109 7,678 70 
			 Northamptonshire 26 1,863 72 
			 Northumbria 210 9,640 46 
			 North Yorkshire 21 890 42 
			 Nottinghamshire 21 890 42 
			 South Yorkshire 194 10,365 53 
			 Staffordshire 32 3,000 94 
			 Suffolk 369 16,428 45 
			 Surrey 95 5,960 63 
			 Sussex 116 5.083 44 
			 Thames Valley 325 17,830 55 
			 Warwickshire 257 14,370 56 
			 West Mercia 296 17,816 60 
			 West Midlands 279 13,290 48 
			 West Yorkshire 624 33,865 54 
			 Wiltshire 185 22,174 120 
			 England 11,436 821,733 72 
		
	
	(6) Offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.22; Transport Act 2000 ss.173 (5); 173 (6); 173 (7); 174 (3); 175 (2); 175 (3); 175 (4); 100 Highway Act 1835 ss 72 and 78; RTA 1988 ss. 19 and 21: Highways Act 1980 s. 137 (1); Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 ss. 5 (1), 8, 32–36 and 45–53; Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) regulations 1986 Regs. 101 and 103; Transport Act 2000 Part III; Metropolitan Police Act 1839 s. 54 (1).
	(7) Does not include decriminalised parking enforcements (DPE).
	(8) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were originally issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.

Armed Forces

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the trained strength of each of the armed forces against requirement was on the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by rank.

Adam Ingram: The trained strength against requirement of the UK Regular forces 1 by service and paid rank at 1 July 2005 is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Naval Service Army RAF 
			  Requirement Strength Requirement Strength Requirement Strength 
		
		
			 Officers 6,950 6,670 13,740 13,730 10,000 9,500 
			 OF-6 to OF-9(10) 120 120 220 240 100 120 
			 OF-5 270 260 600 590 280 290 
			 OF-4 1,200 1,080 1,720 1,730 1,100 1,160 
			 OF-3(11) 2,280 2,300 4,400 4,580 2,620 2,410 
			 OF-2(11) 3,010 2,850 4,960 4,690 5,200 4,910 
			 OF-1(12) 60 60 1,840 1,880 (14)— (14)— 
			 Specialists(13) (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— 700 600 
			 Other ranks 30,770 28,500 87,030 84,580 38,400 39,110 
			 OR-9 920 840 1,470 1,790 1,150 1,210 
			 OR-8(16) 920 850 4,460 4,870 (15)— (15)— 
			 OR-7 4,630 4,280 5,510 6,030 3,850 3,830 
			 OR-6 5,560 4,750 10,880 10,220 7,840 7,510 
			 OR-5(10) (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— (15)— 
			 OR-4 6,860 5,490 16,860 16,030 10,420 10,020 
			 OR-3(16)(17) (15)— (15)— 17,760 16,150 (15)— (15)— 
			 OR-1(17) to OR2 11,880 12,300 30,080 29,500 15,140 16,550 
		
	
	(9) Data are for UK regular forces including nursing services and therefore exclude full time reserve service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists.
	(10) No services have personnel at NATO rank OF-10 or OR-5.
	(11) Professional Aviator/Specialist Aircrew OF-3 in RAF are included in OF-2 strength because the posts they are filling are included in the OF-2 requirement.
	(12) It is not possible to split requirement for RAF between OF-1 and OF-2
	(13) Requirements for RAF Officer Specialist ranks are set by specialism rather than by rank.
	(14) Not available
	(15) Not applicable
	(16) The Royal Air Force has no personnel at NATO ranks OR-3 or OR-8
	(17) The Naval Service has no personnel at NATO ranks OR-1 or OR-3.
	Note:
	Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Due to the founding methods used, figures may not always equal the sum of the parts. Numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.
	Source:
	DASA (Tri-Service)

Military Personnel

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving military personnel in the (a) army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force are (i) single, (ii) married, (iii) divorced and (iv) separated, broken down by the age ranges (A) 24 and under, (B) 25 to 29, (C) 30 to 34, (D) 35 to 39, (E) 40 to 44 and (F) 45 years and over.

Don Touhig: Strength of UK regular forces (trained and untrained) at 1 September 2005 by Service, marital status and age group is shown in the following tables:
	
		Naval Service
		
			  Married Not married 
		
		
			 All ages 16,700 22,795 
			
			 24 and under 560 11,700 
			 25 to 29 1,520 5,290 
			 30 to 34 3,925 2,910 
			 35 to 39 5,185 1,705 
			 40 to 44 3,270 865 
			 45 and over 2,240 325 
		
	
	The Naval Service groups those who are not married together, so it is not possible to produce separate analysis for those who are single, divorced or separated.
	
		Army
		
			  Single Married Divorced Separated 
		
		
			 All ages 55,020 48,575 3,515 230 
			  
			 24 and under 36,640 4,465 60 — 
			 25 to 29 12,530 9,305 400 15 
			 30 to 34 3,985 12,670 1,090 25 
			 35 to 39 1,350 13,545 1,370 50 
			 40 to 44 360 5,170 425 75 
			 45 and over 155 3,420 170 65 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Single includes the categories "single" and "widower".
	2. Married includes the categories "married (legally separated revoked)", "married" and "married (Decree Nisi revoked)".
	3. Divorced includes the categories "divorce nisi absolute" and "single marriage annulled".
	4. Separated includes the categories "legally separated" and "divorce Decree Nisi".
	
		RAF
		
			  Single Married Divorced Separated 
		
		
			 All ages 19,775 26,675 2,120 2,250 
			  
			 24 and under 10,175 1,150 20 115 
			 25 to 29 5,600 2,885 120 355 
			 30 to 34 2,325 5,095 425 520 
			 35 to 39 1,070 7,655 755 625 
			 40 to 44 400 5,440 485 410 
			 45 and over 205 4,455 315 225 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Single includes the categories "single" and "widower".
	2. Divorced includes the categories "divorce absolute" and "marriage annulled".
	3. Separated includes the categories "legal separation", "divorce nisi" and estranged/mutually separated.

Ministerial Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many air miles were accrued through departmental ministerial travel in his Department in 2004–05, broken down by Minister; how many were (a) foregone and (b) donated to charity, broken down by charity; and whether air miles accrued by officials were required to be (i) foregone and (ii) given to charity.

Don Touhig: Ministerial travel is conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers". Guidance for Ministers on the use of air miles is set out in the "Ministerial Code". The guidance makes clear that air miles should be used only for official purposes or else forgone. However, if it is impracticable to use the benefits for Government travel, there is no objection to Ministers donating them to charity if this is permissible under the terms of the airline's scheme and the charity is one chosen by the airline.
	Similar rules are in place for officials. However, the Ministry of Defence has no central record of air miles accrued by either Ministers or officials, and is unable to provide details of those forgone or donated to charity.

Birmingham Stock Exchange

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent by the West Midlands Regional Development Association on the creation of a stock exchange in Birmingham; and what the planned completion date is.

Alun Michael: There is a well acknowledged market failure for West Midlands based SME's raising growth capital. Recent work undertaken by ECOTEC for AWM in September 2004 has restated the existence of an equity gap of between £0.5 million and £5 million, with the most severe constraints being for businesses seeking up to £2 million of growth capital.
	Investbx will act as a facilitator to connect ambitious West Midlands based companies with investors. Companies will release shares in exchange for funds; Investors will have access to investment opportunities that would otherwise not have been available to them.
	While the primary objective of Investbx is to raise funds for the company, a number of ancillary services such as a trading platform, receiving agent services and showcasing will be an integral part of the Investbx offer to ensure that the process of raising money is as straightforward as possible and that there is continued interest in the company once it joins the trading platform.
	The application for up to £3.8 million funding over six years for Investbx was formally approved by AWM on 19 January 2005. The project received DTI Section 5(2)(c) consent on 4 April 2005 and it is anticipated that Investbx will launch during Q2 2006. Funding from AWM will be used to pump prime the establishment of Investbx for up to five years or such time as sufficient companies and investors have been attracted in order to sustain Investbx as a stand alone entity.
	AWM's involvement will give comfort that Investbx will be supported for at least five years or until it reaches the point of sustainability. This guaranteed longevity is vital. Potential companies, investors and intermediaries need re-assurance that Investbx will be a permanent feature of the financial community.

Civil Partnerships Act

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he plans to inform (a) employees and (b) businesses of the change in rules that will occur as a result of the introduction of the Civil Partnerships Act 2004.

Meg Munn: Informing employees and businesses about the Civil Partnership Act is an important element of the Government's awareness raising campaign about the legislation.
	The Women and Equality Unit (WEU) has already produced advice for employees and businesses about the impact of the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act. In July a bulletin specifically for employees and businesses was published on the WEU website and emailed to a wide range of stakeholders, including employers organisations and trade unions.
	ACAS will shortly be re-issuing its guide on "Sexual Orientation in the Workplace", which has been updated to reflect the introduction of civil partnership. In addition, I have written several articles about civil partnership for business and trade union publications which will be published over the next couple of months.
	There is also extensive general guidance on civil partnership on the WEU website, which can be access at www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/civilpartnership.htm

Coal Imports

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of coal imports on the UK's balance of payments; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: According to the latest HM Revenue and Customs statistics, in 2004 the value of imports of coal and other solid fuels was £1482.3 million. The value of exports of coal and other solid fuels was £60.2 million. Hence, in 2004 the net exports (exports minus imports) of coal and solid fuel were valued at -£1422.1 million.
	These net exports represent 6 per cent. of the UK current account deficit in 2004. The current account deficit is forecast to widen a little this year to around 2¾ per cent. of GDP, and to be stable at about that level thereafter. This remains modest compared to historical peaks: The current account deficit was more than 5 per cent. of GDP in 1989.

Independent School Fees

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the Office of Fair Trading will publish the results of their inquiry into possible collusion in setting fee levels at certain independent schools.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The conduct and timing of investigations carried out by the Office of Fair Trading are a matter for that body which conducts its investigations independently of the Secretary of State and other ministerial Government Departments.

Independent School Fees

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost of the Office of Fair Trading inquiry into possible fee-setting at certain independent schools.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The investigation launched in June 2003.
	The OFT does not have figures that differentiate costs between cases pre-dating the launch of its dedicated time recording systems on 1 April 2004. The figures available show that the direct costs of the schools investigation since this point are approximately:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2004–05 173,000 
			 Q1 2005–06 29,000 
			 Total from 1 April 2004–30 June 2005 202,000 
		
	
	The figures for Q2 2005–06 should be available at the end of the month.

Independent School Fees

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will place in the Library the evidence submitted to the Office of Fair Trading inquiry into possible collusion in fee-setting at certain independent schools.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Evidence gathered by the Office of Fair Trading during the course of its investigations is retained by the Office of Fair Trading, which is independent of the Secretary of State and of other ministerial Government Departments. Such evidence is also subject to statutory restrictions on disclosure under part 9 of the Enterprise Act 2002 which would prevent it from being placed in the Libraries of the House.

Investbx Scheme

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what expenditure Advantage West Midlands (a) has so far incurred and (b) is expected to incur on establishing the Investbx scheme.

Alun Michael: The project background was explained in parliamentary question number 18780 answered today.
	The application for up to £3.8 million funding over six years for Investbx as formally approved by AWM on 19 January 2005 and the project received DTI section 5(2)(c) consent on 4 April 2005. Costs associated with establishing Investbx which include feasibility work, market testing and legal fees are expected to be as follows:
	
		
			  Total to establish Investbx (£000) 
		
		
			 To 30 September 2005 826 
			 To 31 March 2006 c.900 
		
	
	It is anticipated that Investbx will launch during Q2 2006.

Liquefied Gas Pipeline

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with Transco about the proposed routes of the liquefied gas pipelines from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the proposed routes of the Milford Haven liquefied gas pipeline.

Malcolm Wicks: I have facilitated discussions between the LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) terminal companies, National Grid (formerly "National Grid Transco"), and Ofgem, about the need for timely pipeline connections to flow natural gas from the terminals (when commissioned) into the National Transportation System for gas. The choice of route is a commercial matter for National Grid, subject to the necessary regulatory consents.

Meters

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Dynamically Teleswitched Meters there are in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.

Malcolm Wicks: There are 228,000 Dynamically Switched Meters in Scotland. No data is available for England and Wales

Miners' Compensation

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many disabled miners or their widows have received compensation for lung disease and vibration white finger in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The figures requested are set out in the following tables. Such statistics are available by constituency or postcode boundaries so figures for South Tyneside and Tyne and Wear cannot be produced individually. Payments include those to miners' estates as well as miners and widows.
	
		COPD
		
			  Jarrow South Tyneside(18) UK 
		
		
			 1997 0 0 0 
			 1998 2 12 1,147 
			 1999 1 10 643 
			 2000 21 96 4,427 
			 2001 30 182 10,820 
			 2002 83 526 31,995 
			 2003 130 836 48,504 
			 2004 187 1,231 59,004 
			 2005 321 1,969 93,733 
			 Total 775 4,862 250,273 
		
	
	
		VWF
		
			  Jarrow South Tyneside(18) UK 
		
		
			 1997 1 4 748 
			 1998 0 19 1,182 
			 1999 39 252 5,343 
			 2000 39 233 7,488 
			 2001 51 427 17,543 
			 2002 76 479 22,446 
			 2003 120 664 30,796 
			 2004 92 538 25,028 
			 2005 54 335 15,924 
			 Total 472 2,951 126,498 
		
	
	(18) Consists of South Shields, Gateshead East and Washington West, Sunderland North, Sunderland South and Jarrow constituencies.
	Note:
	To ensure that a claimant is only reported once, where a claimant has received a payment in separate years they are only reported on the latest payment (e.g. if a claimant receives an interim payment in 2001 and a full and final payment in 2002, they will be reported in 2002 only).

Miners' Compensation

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much compensation has been paid for lung disease and vibration white finger to disabled miners or their widows in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear and (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The figures requested are set out in the following tables. Such statistics are available by constituency or postcode boundaries so figures for South Tyneside and Tyne and Wear cannot be produced individually. Payments include those to miners' estates as well as miners and widows.
	
		COPD
		
			  Jarrow South Tyneside(19) UK 
		
		
			 1997 — — — 
			 1998 44,000 298,000 21,183,214 
			 1999 58,622 426,312 21,802,087 
			 2000 222,128 1,291,183 60,840,464 
			 2001 293,762 2,297,737 134,749,625 
			 2002 544,634 5,260,846 295,410,803 
			 2003 1,064,164 7,944,173 413,921,531 
			 2004 1,116,472 8,375,901 340,768,003 
			 2005 1,400,960 8,606,947 325,688,955 
			 Total 4,744,743 34,501,099 1,614,364,682 
		
	
	
		VWF
		
			  Jarrow South Tyneside(19) UK 
		
		
			 1997 1,450 8,230 879,351 
			 1998 17,000 136,884 3,680,980 
			 1999 479,847 3,352,533 51,431,960 
			 2000 1,016,571 6,742,373 149,170,029 
			 2001 899,037 6,895,903 231,872,092 
			 2002 845,049 5,519,821 226,824,141 
			 2003 998,678 5,950,994 245,242,056 
			 2004 774,671 4,801,760 174,635,529 
			 2005 459,790 3,060,557 97,678,630 
			 Total 5,492,092 36,469,055 1,181,414,766 
		
	
	(19) Consists of South Shields, Gateshead East and Washington West, Sunderland North, Sunderland South and Jarrow constituencies.
	Note:
	Total damages paid represents all payments made, i.e. includes both interims and full & final payments.

National Grid

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what level the voltage on the national grid may be reduced in the event of a one in 50 cold winter.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the terms of the Grid Code, National Grid can direct Distributed Network Operators to implement short-term demand reduction measures. The Distributed Network Operators have a number of different tools available to deal with a request of this nature; these include short-term disconnection, interrupting supply to those customers whose contracts permit it or the use of voltage reductions. The severity of the situation would decide which of these measures were appropriate.
	However this is a very short-term measure that can only address an emergency situation. In a long-term shortage of supply incident other demand restraint measures would be utilised.

Natural Gas

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contingency plans are in place to deal with a possible shortage of natural gas during the winter of 2005–06; and what significant methods are available, in addition to limiting electricity generation, to reduce natural gas consumption.

Malcolm Wicks: In the first instance the Government would expect demand for gas to reduce itself in response to price signals indicating tightness in the balance between supply and demand in the gas market. This has already been observed in previous winters, mostly from electricity generation but also, to a lesser extent, from large industrial users of gas. The scope for additional demand reduction from this sector was explored in a report, "Estimation of Industrial Buyers' Potential Demand Response to Short Periods of High Gas & Electricity Prices: A report to the DTI and Ofgem by Global Insight", which is available from the DTI website under
	http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/publications/policy/index.shtml
	The Government and Ofgem have been working with large industrial users to encourage the provision of more timely and easily accessible information to help market participants to identify commercial opportunities for such demand-side response.
	In the extremely unlikely event of the situation deteriorating to the point where the market is no longer able to balance itself, powers to restrict gas supply are available to the national emergency co-ordinator at National Grid and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State under applicable legislation.

Nuclear Power

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a privatised British Nuclear Group would continue to take overseas contracts for the reprocessing of nuclear material in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The BNFL Board met on 29 September to further consider a number of strategic options for British Nuclear Group to give it the best chance of success in the future and place it in the strongest possible position to win the upcoming NDA site competitions. The preference of the Board is to pursue a sale, which they believe would be in the best interests of the company and its employees.
	Irrespective of who owns BNG decisions on future reprocessing contracts would be for the Government to take on the advice of the NDA.

Nuclear Power

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage of drums of high-level nuclear waste held at Sellafield have been classified by BNFL as not safe to be returned to foreign customers.

Malcolm Wicks: At Sellafield, high-level nuclear waste is made safe for long-term storage by a process called vitrification. The vitrification process chemically bonds the liquid high level waste into a solid glass matrix which is held in a stainless steel container. These Vitrified Residue containers are then placed in an engineered store.
	Approximately 20 per cent. of the Vitrified Residue containers scheduled to be produced over the lifetime of the vitrification plant at Sellafield will be returned to overseas reprocessing customers. The Vitrified Residue containers are manufactured to meet an agreed customer specification and in addition are certified by an independent third party auditor on behalf of overseas customers. To date over 1,000 containers have been certified as meeting this specification.
	All Vitrified Residue containers produced are safely stored at Sellafield and will remain safe for long term storage. Of those containers produced for export to overseas customers none have been classified by British Nuclear Group as unsafe.

Nuclear Power

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the production of nuggets of soluble radioactivity in the vitrification process.

Malcolm Wicks: High level nuclear waste is made safe for long term storage by a process called vitrification. Vitrification chemically bonds the waste products into a solid glass matrix. The vitrification process is internationally recognised as the best available technology for the treatment and storage of such waste.
	During the production of the Vitrified Residue containers, trace amounts of mainly non-radioactive chemicals may not be completely bound into the glass matrix. This is termed 'yellow phase' material and is soluble in water. While formation of such traces of soluble material cannot be entirely eliminated, its formation is rendered insignificant by the glass formulation chosen to incorporate the waste and the operating parameters to which the vitrification process is controlled.
	The vitrification plants at Sellafield are operated to reduce the potential for 'yellow phase' formation. The Vitrified Residue containers remain safe for long term storage.

Ministerial Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many air miles were accrued through departmental ministerial travel in 2004–05, broken down by Minister; how many were (a) foregone and (b) donated to charity, broken down by charity; and whether air miles accrued by officials were required to be (i) foregone and (ii) given to charity.

Hilary Benn: Ministerial travel is conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers". Guidance for Ministers on the use of Air Miles is set out in the Ministerial Code, which makes it clear that air miles should be used only for official purposes or else foregone. If it is impracticable to use the benefits for Government travel, there is no objection to their donation to a charity chosen by the airline. Similar rules apply for officials. We do not maintain a record of air miles earned.
	DFID has recently established a pilot scheme with major airlines under which air miles accrued on official travel can be exchanged for "earth miles" to fund carbon offset projects to neutralise emissions from air travel. All members of DFID are encouraged to contribute.

Graduate Employment

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department has commissioned into employment rates of graduates; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Graduates have very high employment rates, reflecting the economy's strong demand for these higher level skills that are developed through participation in higher education. Graduates are significantly more likely than non-graduates to be in work, as well as enjoying greater pay and wider benefits like better health.
	Data from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey measures first degree graduate activity at a point six months after graduation. The most recent information, covering students who graduated in 2003/04, shows that 64 per cent. were in employment, 15 per cent. were undertaking further study, 9 per cent. were combining work with further study, and just 7 per cent. were unemployed. The remainder were not available for employment for various reasons.
	The survey data also shows early indication that students who have studied shorter, more vocationally oriented courses such as Foundation Degrees are less likely to be unemployed than other graduates. This is very encouraging as most of the future growth in student numbers will come through these courses. The data on Foundation Degree graduates show: 36 per cent. were in employment, 33 per cent. were in further study, 26 per cent. were in employment and study, and 3 per cent. were unemployed, six months after leaving their course.
	However, the main drawback of using the DLHE survey is that it is only a snapshot of the activity of graduates six months after graduation, which is not necessarily representative of their long-term employability. A study of the early careers of a sample of 1995 graduates shows employment rates rising rapidly in the months and years shortly following graduation, as the new graduates integrate into the labour market. By seven years after graduation, the overwhelming majority of graduates are in paid work or study, while just 1–2 per cent. of graduates remain unemployed 1 .
	A study that tracks the labour market outcomes of 1999 graduates up to four years after graduation will be published on the 27 October 2005.
	A cross-section of all (both recent and experienced) graduates in the labour market is available from the Labour Force Survey. Spring 2005 data shows that the employment rate of those with NVQ Level 4 and above as their highest qualification is significantly higher than those with lower qualifications.
	Reference:
	1 See Elias, P et al (2002) "Moving On: Graduate Careers Three Years After Graduation", DFES/HECSU and Purcell, K. and Elias, P (2004): "Seven Years On: Graduate Careers in a Changing Labour Market", HECSU.
	
		Employment and unemployment rates by highest qualification, England, spring 2005 -- Percentage
		
			  Employment rate Unemployment rate 
		
		
			 NVQ Level 4 and above 87 3 
			 NVQ Level 3 78 3 
			 NVQ Level 2 76 5 
			 Below NVQ Level 2 73 6 
			 No qualifications 48 9 
		
	
	Source:
	LFS, Spring 2005. Working-age population only.

Vocational/Academic Education

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research her Department has commissioned into public attitudes towards (a) vocational and (b) academic education; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department has commissioned questions in the British Social Attitude Survey, a major annual independent survey undertaken by the National Centre for Social Research. In surveys prior to 2005 these questions included:
	If the respondent was to advise a 16-year-old about their future, whether they would say that they should stay on full-time education to get A levels, study full time to get vocational qualifications, or leave school to get a job (1990, 2002, 2004);
	In the long run, whether having good practical skills and training, or having good academic results gives people more opportunities and choice in life (1993, 1995, 2002, 2004).
	Additional questions were also added to the survey in 2005 to ask:
	Out of every 100 people finishing school at 16, how many do the respondents think go on to do academic qualifications, and how many do more work-related qualifications;
	How far respondents agree or disagree with the following statements:
	Only people who can't do academic qualifications should do vocational ones;
	Vocational qualifications are easier than academic qualifications;
	Most people don't understand what vocational qualifications are;
	Employers don't respect vocational qualifications enough;
	Schools should do more to encourage young people to do vocational qualifications.
	The National Centre for Social Research publishes the results of these surveys each year. Copies of the published reports are available in the DfES library. The results from the most recent surveys in 2004 and 2005 have not yet been published.
	The Department has commissioned the Public Perception of Education in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005. This is a survey of the general public of attitudes towards the education and skills system.
	Independently, the Learning and Skills Council published the results from a survey undertaken by BMRB. The survey asked respondents in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden whether they thought academic or vocational skills were most important for a career.
	Research provides a useful indicator of the general public's attitude on educational issues. The Department is aware that work-based learning is considered of lower status to academic learning. That is why we are introducing specialised Diplomas as part of our 14–19 White Paper reforms.

Serious and Complex Cases

Ben Wallace: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answers of 10 October 2005, Official Report, columns 1–2W, if he will list those serious and complex cases in which all proceedings are complete about which the Army Prosecution Authority consulted the Attorney-General since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: The Army Prosecuting Authority (APA) routinely consults the Attorney-General before directing trial, in serious cases where there is joint jurisdiction. For instance a court martial has jurisdiction in cases where a person subject to military law faces a charge before court martial of murder/manslaughter committed outside the United Kingdom. Consequently, before directing trial in cases of murder or manslaughter committed outside of the United Kingdom the APA would consult the Attorney-General as a matter of course.
	In cases of offences committed against the criminal law of England and Wales, but committed outside of the United Kingdom and where the defendant has ceased to be subject to military law since committing the offence the APA is obliged by statute to obtain the consent of the Attorney-General before directing trial (section 132, sub-section 3A of the Army Act 1955).
	Recently the APA has consulted the Attorney-General regarding allegations of serious offences committed on military operations in Iraq. The Attorney-General has undertaken to inform Parliament when charges are brought in such cases.

Burn Closes Bridge

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from North Tyneside borough council in relation to closure of Burn Closes Bridge in the interest of public safety.

Stephen Ladyman: Government Office for the North East officials have had several meetings during the last three years or so with North Tyneside council officials at which the council raised the need for major structural maintenance of a number of bridges in the borough. The Department for Transport provides specific funding for highway structural maintenance to bridges on the Primary Route Network and since 2003–04 has allocated funding totalling £3.224 million to the council for bridges in North Tyneside at Hadrian Road (A187) and the Coast Road (A1058) at Blue House. This funding is in addition to the £9.944 million local transport "block" allocation to North Tyneside council since 2003–04.
	Burns Closes Bridge is not on the Primary Route Network and is not, therefore, considered to be an immediate national priority for funding. However, it is recognised that closure of the bridge pending maintenance/reconstruction work, is causing considerable inconvenience to local residents and bus services and therefore I have asked my officials to continue to liaise with the council as it considers the various options for addressing the problem, with a view to assessing the extent to which we are able provide support.

Railway Staff

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision he is making for the protection of railway staff from assault.

Derek Twigg: The Secure Stations Scheme, directed by the Department for Transport and the British Transport Police (BTP), aims to improve the security of both passengers and staff.
	The Rail Safety and Standards Board's Rail Personal Security Group has taken a number of initiatives including publishing a good practice guide on the reporting and recording of staff assaults, and launching a poster campaign to highlight the unacceptability of assaults against rail staff.
	BTP have developed local initiatives in partnership with train operating companies including participating in conflict management training for rail staff, identifying repeat victims, sharing data with employers to identify specific risk areas and assisting victims of serious assault back into the workplace. They also pioneered the use of DMA kits for rail staff so they can capture suspects' DMA which police investigators then compare against the DMA database.
	The BTP is currently meeting its detection target of a 40 per cent. detection rate for staff assaults; the Scottish Area is currently detecting 60 per cent.; and the North Western Area just under 55 per cent.

"Streets for All"

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was of producing and distributing English Heritage's "Streets for All", streetscape manual for the West Midlands.

David Lammy: The total cost of producing and distributing English Heritage's "Streets for All", streetscape manual for the West Midlands Region is estimated as just over £48,000.

Asylum/Immigration

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) asylum appeals and (b) immigration appeals have been lodged with the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal since 4 April; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The latest provisional figures available from the database of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) indicate that, at the end of June 2005, 3,550 asylum appeals, and 8200 immigration appeals (comprising in country and entry clearance cases but not family visitor appeals) had been lodged with the AIT.
	Statistical data confirming the numbers of appeals received beyond the end of June 2005 is not yet currently available.

Drug/Alcohol Deaths

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths of people aged (a) under 18 and (b) over 18 years in (i) London and (ii) each London borough there have been where the use of (A) heroin/morphine, (B) ecstasy, (C) amphetamines, (D) other substances and (E) alcohol was recorded as the cause in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls with the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 19 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths of people (a) under 18 and (b) over 18 years in (i) London and (ii) each London borough where the use of (A) heroin/morphine, (B) ecstasy, (C) amphetamines, (D) other misuse of substances and (E) alcohol was recorded as the cause there have been in each year since 1997. (18650)
	Relevant figures are only readily available for deaths where the underlying cause was either related to drug poisoning or directly related to alcohol (alcohol abuse, dependence and poisoning, and diseases directly related to alcohol use, such as chronic liver disease and cirrhosis). It is not possible to identify from death certificates which substance was the primary cause when more than one was involved.
	There were three deaths from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis among those aged under 18 in Greater London in the period 1997 to 2004, and none from other causes linked to alcohol using the ONS definition. Examination of the certificates suggests that these three deaths were not in fact alcohol-related.
	There were 14 deaths involving drug misuse among residents of Greater London aged under 18 in the period 1997 to 2003, with fewer than five deaths in each of the categories requested (heroin/morphine, ecstasy, and amphetamines). In order to maintain confidentiality of information supplied to ONS by coroners for statistical purposes only, precise numbers cannot be provided for this age group.
	For alcohol-related deaths, figures for those aged 18 and over are provided in Table 1 below by individual year of registration of death. For drug-related poisoning deaths, figures for those aged 18 and over are provided in Table 2. For reasons of confidentiality, these drug-related poisoning data, have been provided for rolling five-year periods and figures have been suppressed where necessary.
	It should be noted that:
	The figures for alcohol-related deaths include the long-term effects of alcohol use. Such as cirrhosis of the liver, whereas the figures for drugs all relate to poisoning from drug use.
	Deaths from poisoning which involved both drugs and alcohol are coded as being due to drug poisoning, in accordance with international rules for coding cause of death.
	The figures on alcohol include only those where the underlying cause was alcohol related. The figures on specific drugs include any mention of the substance where the death was related to drug poisoning.
	The figures on alcohol are for deaths registered in the calendar year and are based on the original underlying cause of death. The figures on drugs are for deaths occurring in the calendar year and are based on the final underlying cause of death and confidential additional information supplied by coroners to ONS.
	For these reasons the figures provided for drug-related poisoning and alcohol-related deaths are not comparable.
	
		Table 1: Alcohol-related deaths(28) to usual residents of London boroughs aged 18 and over, deaths occurring 1997–2001, 1998–2002, and 1999–2003
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 (i) Greater London 746 787 829 805 809 838 834 772 
			  
			 (ii) Borough 
			 City of London 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 
			 Barking and Dagenham 12 16 23 14 18 19 17 15 
			 Barnet 19 18 17 22 29 23 32 18 
			 Bexley 16 22 20 26 25 27 27 17 
			 Brent 33 40 40 32 30 40 25 33 
			 Bromley 21 24 24 30 27 26 21 29 
			 Camden 40 37 41 28 44 35 27 27 
			 Croydon 32 30 43 34 33 26 43 23 
			 Ealing 32 28 34 31 37 38 44 39 
			 Enfield 17 19 25 22 13 21 28 26 
			 Greenwich 20 29 31 32 29 25 25 26 
			 Hackney 13 21 27 16 19 21 25 29 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 20 30 23 25 26 24 25 35 
			 Haringey 27 13 23 23 21 20 19 25 
			 Harrow 23 20 20 13 14 17 16 22 
			 Havering 17 13 14 9 14 24 19 18 
			 Hillingdon 34 25 23 16 26 27 30 43 
			 Hounslow 18 38 29 31 29 32 46 28 
			 Islington 25 36 22 25 32 26 22 13 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 16 16 20 28 16 21 14 13 
			 Kingston upon Thames 11 18 18 13 24 19 16 13 
			 Lambeth 33 41 35 40 32 28 34 33 
			 Lewisham 32 28 30 24 29 41 32 32 
			 Merton 18 23 18 22 19 22 21 13 
			 Newham 28 19 33 29 28 33 32 36 
			 Redbridge 27 19 24 26 16 24 16 21 
			 Richmond upon Thames 16 17 19 17 15 29 29 23 
			 Southwark 35 28 28 37 40 31 35 28 
			 Sutton 11 10 21 18 10 17 9 12 
			 Tower Hamlets 23 22 27 30 18 25 26 20 
			 Waltham Forest 15 21 12 21 21 18 19 16 
			 Wandsworth 28 29 31 32 41 24 30 21 
			 Westminster 34 37 33 38 34 32 28 25 
		
	
	(28) For the years 1997–2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 291, 303, 305.0, 425.5, 571, E860. For the years from 2001 onwards the cause of deaths was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes F10, 142.6, K70, K73, K74, X45.
	Deaths were selected using the original underlying cause.
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:
	Baker A. and Rooney C. (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales, "Health Statistics Quarterly" 17. pp 5–14.
	
		Table 2: Deaths from drug-related poisoning(29) involving selected drugs,(30) to usual residents of London boroughs aged 18 and over, deaths occurring 1997–2001,1998–2002, and 1999–2003
		
			  (A) Heroin/morphine (B) Ecstasy (C) Amphetamines 
			  1997–2001 1998–2002 1999–2003 1997–2001 1998–2002 1999–2003 1997–2001 1998–2002 1999–2003 
		
		
			 (i) Greater London 367 347 321 28 32 32 40 45 42 
			   
			 (ii) Borough  
			 City of London (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Barking and Dagenham (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Barnet 16 18 16 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Bexley 6 5 5 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Brent 11 13 10 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Bromley 7 7 6 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Camden 15 15 15 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Croydon 6 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Ealing 13 11 8 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Enfield 8 7 9 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Greenwich 21 20 18 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Hackney 8 6 8 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 19 17 18 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 5 
			 Haringey 20 19 19 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Harrow 6 6 4 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Havering (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Hillingdon 15 12 13 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Hounslow 6 9 10 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Islington 14 10 9 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 6 6 7 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Kingston upon Thames 6 7 6 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Lambeth 44 40 33 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Lewisham 20 18 12 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Merton 6 6 6 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Newham 12 12 12 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Redbridge 5 6 6 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Richmond upon Thames 9 9 8 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Southwark 11 10 10 (31)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Sutton 8 9 10 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Tower Hamlets 11 13 11 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Waltham Forest 12 8 7 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Wandsworth 13 11 8 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Westminster 5 7 8 (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
		
	
	
		
			  (D) Other misuse(31) Total misuse deaths(32) 
			  1997–2001 1998–2002 1999–2003 1997–2001 1998–2002 1999–2003 
		
		
			 (i) Greater London 957 877 756 1,362 1,268 1,118 
			
			 (ii) Borough   
			 City of London (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— (33)— 
			 Barking and Dagenham 9 8 7 15 12 10 
			 Barnet 23 25 24 40 43 40 
			 Bexley 12 14 14 19 20 20 
			 Brent 27 20 13 39 33 23 
			 Bromley 20 23 22 29 32 29 
			 Camden 108 99 79 124 115 94 
			 Croydon 18 19 17 27 27 26 
			 Ealing 16 17 14 30 30 23 
			 Enfield 22 21 25 31 29 34 
			 Greenwich 23 21 23 46 43 43 
			 Hackney 38 33 26 48 42 37 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 49 39 36 70 59 58 
			 Haringey 25 24 23 47 46 44 
			 Harrow 15 10 6 24 19 14 
			 Havering (33)— (33)— (33)— 8 7 8 
			 Hillingdon 14 14 16 32 29 31 
			 Hounslow 15 14 12 21 24 23 
			 Islington 48 49 43 63 59 52 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 41 38 34 50 47 43 
			 Kingston upon Thames 18 18 13 24 25 19 
			 Lambeth 71 69 64 117 111 100 
			 Lewisham 32 33 26 53 53 39 
			 Merton 25 19 18 31 25 24 
			 Newham 18 14 8 30 26 20 
			 Redbridge 18 14 13 23 20 19 
			 Richmond upon Thames 16 14 12 27 26 23 
			 Southwark 61 58 52 73 69 62 
			 Sutton 6 5 6 14 15 17 
			 Tower Hamlets 29 25 24 42 39 37 
			 Waltham Forest 23 18 13 37 27 22 
			 Wandsworth 33 28 18 46 39 26 
			 Westminster 76 69 49 82 77 58 
		
	
	(29) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases. Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 292, 304, 305.2–305.9, E850-E858, E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5 for 1997 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and 10-Y14 from 2001 onwards.
	(30) Drugs mentioned on the death certificate of a death where the underlying cause was drug poisoning.
	(31) Drug misuse deaths where heroin/morphine and amphetamines not mentioned.
	(32) As some deaths may be counted in more than one drug column, the numbers cannot be added together to give total misuse deaths.
	(33) Data suppressed due to confidentiality considerations.

Childhood Leukaemia

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of the link between childhood leukaemia and overhead power lines.

Caroline Flint: The Department's radiation protection research programme supports a number of studies investigating the possible health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF). A study by Dr. Draper and colleagues on childhood leukaemia and distance from power lines, recently published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and funded under this programme, has added to a large existing body of work in this area (BMJ Vol 330, 4 June 2005).
	The Health Protection Agency's radiation protection division (HPA-RPD) keeps the world-wide research findings on EMF continually under review. In 2004, on the basis of a comprehensive review of the existing body of research to date, the HPA-RPD (previously the National Radiological Protection Board) recommended the adoption of new EMF exposure guidelines in this country. In addition, in view of the scientific uncertainties, the HPA recommended the Government "consider the need for further precautionary measures" in relation to power frequency electromagnetic fields. They have also noted that the majority of elevated magnetic fields are due to variations in the electricity supply and distribution system, the presence of substations and equipment in the home rather than proximity to power lines.
	Practical precautionary measures are now being considered in detail by a stakeholder advisory group that includes the Government Departments, agencies, electricity industry, specialists and public concern groups. Details of the process can be found on the website at: www.rkpartnership.co.uk/sage

Frozen Assets

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the organisations whose assets have been frozen in Northern Ireland due to links with terrorism in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: Law enforcement agencies have fully utilised proceeds of crime powers to freeze assets from individuals. Assets totalling nearly £12 million were restrained or confiscated by law enforcement agencies in 2004–05. These actions were taken against individuals.
	Records indicate that no organisations have had their assets frozen due to links with terrorism in the last 10 years.

Grant Maintained Independent Schools

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to allocate funds to grant maintained integrated schools to employ staff in order to implement the Costello review of post primary education; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department of Education has allocated additional funds to the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education to enable it to support and facilitate schools in the integrated sector in beginning to develop collaborative arrangements with other schools and with FE colleges to provide access to the curricular Entitlement Framework, and generally to support work by integrated schools to prepare for the implementation of the new post-primary arrangements.
	Additional funds have also been allocated to the education and library boards, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools and Comhairle na Gaelscola- ochta in respect of their school sectors. The Department is in correspondence with the Governing Bodies Association about support for the voluntary grammar school sector.

Hydebank Wood Centre

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to implement the recommendations by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for improving conditions for female prisoners at the Hydebank Wood Centre in Belfast.

Shaun Woodward: The Prison Service has placed women prisoners' needs centre stage, and has made significant progress against the recommendations made by both the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) and the CJINI/HMCIP Inspection Team in its report on Ash House published in May 2005.
	Key developments to date include:
	1. Recognition of the special needs of women in custody, with gender specific programmes and policies, including policies on:
	The Management of Mothers and Babies
	Suicide and Self Harm
	Child Protection / Public Protection
	Resettlement
	Anti-bullying
	Induction
	First Night
	Drugs and Alcohol
	Foreign Nationals
	Policies on these topics will shortly be issued for consultation.
	2. Ash House now has a distinct gender specific identity, supported by a discrete management structure:
	A NIPS female Governor dedicated to the management of female prisoners is now in place.
	A female Governor, on secondment from HMPS, was appointed on 20 June to lead the development of the regime for Ash.
	The majority (75 per cent.) of staff in the unit are female.
	Prisoners have access to women staff at all times.
	3. Child-centred visits are being further developed. Additional monthly child centred visits are available for life sentenced prisoners. NIPS is exploring the possibility of allowing children to stay overnight with their mother in prison occasionally.
	4. Women prisoners have access to a wider range of education, work and rehabilitative programmes specifically linked to the skills requirements of women prisoners, which should enhance their prospects of acquiring employment upon release from custody. They also have access to a working out scheme. Specifically:
	NIPS conducted a detailed analysis on the re-integration needs of women prisoners. This was published on 7 October and has already resulted in:
	the opening of a careers advice surgery, run by NIACRO;
	PBNI providing a dedicated re-integration worker before the end of the year to support women before and after release; and
	the appointment of a bereavement counsellor early in 2006 with the support of CRUSE.
	Courses offered vary from numeracy and literacy to A-level Psychology, and include cookery, music, drama and aromatherapy; CLAIT is also available and NVQ's are due to be available from March 2006.
	Five new teachers are being appointed and two new VT Instructors.
	5. All women receive a healthcare screening on committal to prison and they are offered the opportunity to join a "well women" clinic. There is 24 hour nursing care available and women prisoners have access to a female doctor. A Health Needs assessment of the women in Ash House is scheduled for later this year. Psychologists are currently preparing an in-depth analysis of the offending behaviour needs of women prisoners and the prisoners will be consulted extensively in its development.
	6. The Prison Service is committed to gender specific training of the staff working with women prisoners. Training already delivered includes:
	Child Awareness
	Cultural Diversity
	Housing Rights
	Management of Aggression
	Mental Health Awareness
	Mother and Baby
	Prisoner Management
	Further training will include:
	Working with females in custody
	Working with vulnerable females in custody
	Dealing with Mental Health Issues
	Presentation Skills for Induction
	Lifer training
	Suicide Awareness
	Nature of Adolescence
	7. On self-harm and suicide, a new committee has been established on which prisoners are represented. A buddy scheme has been set up and 24 free telephone access to the Samaritans has been provided. A new self harm policy is being drafted and women who need to be observed can now remain on general association. Two Cognitive Behavioural Therapy nurses were recruited in June from a local Health Trust to work with women prisoners.
	8. Installation of in-cell sanitation has begun in Beech House and the Service plans for the women prisoners to move there early next year, while facilities are being installed in the cells at Ash House. In the meantime, women have access to lavatories on request.
	Notwithstanding these improvements, the Prison Service recognises that Ash House may not be the most suitable long-term option to house women prisoners and alternative accommodation is being considered as part of the Service's on-going strategic development programme. This is designed to map out the way forward for the next 10–15 years. It will also examine the feasibility of housing long term women prisoners separately from short term women prisoners.
	In the meantime, the Prison Service will continue to work, in partnership with others in the public, private and voluntary sectors, and with women in custody to improve its performance further. Indeed, the Human Rights Commission has been given access to Ash House—to the facilities and to the women who want to be interviewed—to monitor the current situation independently.
	However, this issue is not something for the Prison Service alone. Many agencies and the community as a whole have a role to play in ensuring that support measures are in place to reduce the likelihood of vulnerable women ending up in custody and to cater for the reintegration and resettlement needs of those sent to prison.

Influenza Vaccination

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps he has taken to promote the influenza vaccination among Northern Ireland's elderly population.

Shaun Woodward: The launch of the annual influenza immunisation programme on 3 October attracted a considerable amount of TV and press coverage, and this was followed by an advertising campaign inviting elderly and other at risk patients to "catch the vaccine not the flu". Most GPs will issue personal invitations to their elderly patients to come for the vaccination.
	In addition a supply of leaflets about the benefits of immunisation have been distributed to all GP practices, libraries, pharmacies, residential and nursing homes. Translink are involved in the campaign displaying posters, promoting the flu programme, on their vehicles.